Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Book Six

“The Dark Olympians”

Chapter One: I Go Home After Being Zapped By Athena

Fourteen Years Ago

The fountain gurgled inside my cabin, waking me better than any alarm clock. Today was one of the best and worst days of the year. It was one of the best because at the end of the day, I’d get to see my mom and Paul, my stepdad. It was one of the worst because I was leaving Camp Half-Blood, the most sick nasty place on Earth, for my fifth summer.

This summer was awesome. Seriously. I finally became a counselor, though considering I was a counselor of my own bunk, that wasn’t really saying much. As the only half-blooded kid of Poseidon, I didn’t have anyone to counsel. Still, most of the younger kids looked up at me, being as I was the unofficial general of the resistance against the Titans back a year ago, so y’know, it was pretty cool this summer.

Of course, sorting through Chiron’s messages, vacuuming the Big House, and helping to tend Mr. D’s fruit. Yeah, that wasn’t so cool.

After lounging in bed for about ten minutes, I decided to get up and head for breakfast. I packed most of my stuff the night before, so I really didn’t have much to do other than make my bed and put on pants. Walking in jeans, my camp T-shirt, and sandals, I took the beach route to the food pavilion, giving my daily pass to the green-skinned figure sitting in the surf. He leaned back on his arms like pillars and watched the rising sun.

“Hello, Perseus.”

I ignored him.

“Do you realize I gave Father the silent treatment for longer than you will live?”

Those kinds of distinctions really put me in a good mood in the morning.

“You will forgive me like the other Perseus did.”

That stopped my sandals from flapping, and I gave Triton my patented you’re-an-idiot look. “You’ve never had another brother named Perseus. His name was Theseus.”

Triton thought for a long moment. “No, his name was Perseus.”

“No, it was Theseus, and you never made him immortal.”

“No, his name was…ooh, yes. That’s right. Perseus was Zeus’s brat, right? Oh, gods. Then who was Theseus?”

I threw up my hands. Sometimes living in a family mixed with mortals and immortals was just frustrating. As I started toward the pavilion again, Triton called, “Percy, this is probably the last time we will see each other until next summer.”

Well, then, good riddance, is what I wanted to say. After all he’d done to me—I could do without seeing him for a while. Still, I stopped and crossed my arms, regarding him surly as he emerged from the water.

“I wanted to say this is the most I have gotten to know one of my mortal brothers and sisters ever, and it has been a pleasure.”

“I’m ignoring you and have been for—oh, the last month or so.”

“One day you’ll understand.”

“One day I’ll kick your ass back to the sea.”

Triton shook his head. “Like that will ever happen, but…” He looked out over the sea and grinned fondly. “I will meet you back here next summer, and we will try again. Until then, if you ever need anything, brother—”

“I won’t need you.”

“But if you do—” He extracted a small seaweed necklace from his leather vest. Hanging from its tentacle was a small conch. “Blow this, and I will come. I will always come.”

“I’m immortal now, right? So what does it matter?”

He slipped it over my head and tucked it under my shirt and camp necklace. “Just…promise me, okay? You’ll call.”

I tried to avert my eyes from his, but it was hard. After all, his sea-green orbs looked just like mine. “Fine,” I grumbled.

We broke then, and I headed up to the breakfast pavilion. I made a point of not looking back.

*^*^*

Triton watched his little brother climbed the small incline toward the pavilion and sighed deeply. He’d made a mess of the situation, but he wasn’t going to get close to Percy unless he knew there was no chance of losing him. He’d done that before to many a mortal, and he wouldn’t make that mistake with his brother, whether Percy cared or not.

Eventually, after six hundred years or so, he’d get over it.

After all, Triton’d gotten over it with his father and mother.

As Percy disappeared from the beach, Triton’s heart sunk, and he turned toward the seat once more.

And started.

There, standing less than twenty feet away was a young man looking in his early twenties. He had the same dark hair, even pulled back in a tail, and bright sea-green eyes. He wore Bermuda shorts much like Poseidon, but his shirt was a tight dark blue tee.

He put a small conch to his lips and blew lowly.

“I need you, brother.”

*^*^*

Annabeth brushed her long, golden hair from her stormy eyes. Gods, was she beautiful. And that annoyed look she sent when she turned toward me just made my heart melt.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, even though she already knew the answer.

“What am I doing?” I repeated. I looked at her brothers and sisters and shrugged. “I’m sitting at your table.”

“It’s forbidden.”

“So’s most of the fun stuff in life, but I don’t let it get me down.”

Annabeth shook her head. “You’re going to get in trouble.”

“What’s Chiron going to do?” I argued. “Send me to my cabin without breakfast. Kick me out of camp until next year? Come on, Annabeth. I want to sit next to you for a meal. I haven’t been able to all summer.”

It was true. Dating at Camp Half-Blood was a nightmare. First, no two campers were allowed alone in a cabin at one time, especially not of the opposite sex. Not that Annabeth and I had any plans, but if you wanted to catch a movie, read a book or just hang—wasn’t happening. Then, all cabin members must sit at their designated table. Me? All alone. Annabeth? With her siblings. It left no room for enjoying a meal.

Oh, and let’s not get to the kissing part. If you wanted to be alone for two moments—nope. Nymphs and satyrs and gods and you-name-it came out of the woodwork and water and whatever else right before your lips touched.

Sucked, plan and simple. Was it so wrong for me to want one meal with my girlfriend all summer? Was that too much to ask?

Annabeth blushed, and I could tell she was flattered. Boo-yah. One point to Percy Jackson, boyfriend extraordinaire.

“Well, I’ll make sure you’re final effects reach your mom and Paul,” she said.

“Nothing’s going to happen,” I promised, stealing a quick kiss.

The final campers stumbled in, and Chiron stood at the head table with Mr. D, part of the satyr council and whatnot. Chiron raised a glass of orange juice.

“Campers. Another summer has passed, and you have once more proved your braver—Percy Jackson. What are you doing?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m sitting with my girlfriend.”

“At Athena’s table.”

“Why is that such a problem?” I challenged. “I mean, come on. Athena’s a goddess. Most of our parents can’t spend more than five seconds with us at a time. Do you really think right now, at this very moment, Athena’s looking down from Olympus and going to smote me for sitting next to her—”

Suddenly, a flare of blue fire roared between me and Annabeth, and I tumbled off the bench to escape. Still, the front of my shirt was singed; I was just grateful my eyebrows were still intact.

Annabeth gazed down at me, her surprise slowly twisting into an unbelievable smirk. She started to laugh but covered her mouth.

Chiron dipped his goblet in respect. “Rules are in place for a reason, Mr. Jackson, though I do thank you for demonstrating why we demand such strict adherence to them.”

I wanted to reply something like, “No problem, Chiron!” but I’m sure it came out something like, “Uh, uh-huh.”

Slowly, I stumbled back to my table and sat, alone, for what seemed like the hundredth time.

That was, until Grover slipped in the seat across of me.

For a moment, I blinked. I hadn’t seen him really all summer. So many satyrs were out helping to collect new kids being claimed by their god parents (not those godparents, their y’know, godly parents!). And the fact he was the chosen one of Pan, the Lord of the Wild…well, we didn’t get to see a lot of each other.

“Dude, what are you—”

As Chiron was finishing his speak, Grover bent over to whisper, “You didn’t think I was going to let you leave camp without saying good-bye, did you?”

“Only until next year.”

“Only until the next quest.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please. I actually went a whole year without going on one of the dangerous missions with high death rates.”

“You missed it, didn’t you?”

Luke had asked me the same thing after I came back from my mission. I smiled. “Yeah…”

“Good. Then it’s settled. Next summer, you, me, and Annabeth—if you guys cannot make out for a moment—”

“Hey!”

“—we’ll go kick some monster tail.”

This from the goat-boy who used to shutter at a falling leaf. “Deal!”

We slapped hands.

“That is, of course—” He waved his hand over his glass to get grape juice. “—unless you somehow find yourself in the middle of one beforehand.”

“Dude, it’s not my fault danger’s attracted to me.”

Grover laughed and nodded toward Annabeth. “Yeah, but it’s not the only one.”

*^*^*

The sun setting along the high-rise buildings of New York was breathtaking, and despite all the appreciation I had for it, mine was nothing compared to Annabeth’s. It was the reason she allowed me to drive her Honda Civic back from Long Island, so she could gaze upon the large structures with the sun just perfect.

We reached my apartment first since Annabeth would once more be attending a boarding school in Brooklyn. The place was like a palace, and her room was larger than mine.

Not that I’d know, of course.

When I put the car in park, she lunged and wrapped her arms about my shoulders. Then, leaning close, her lips met mine for what had to be a full minute. When she finally pulled away, she smiled breathlessly at me and touched my forehead with hers.

“This summer was awesome, wasn’t it?”

“Spoken like the daughter of the Goddess of Wisdom.”

Her hair smelled of cinnamon and feathers, which was weird and at the same time, so entrancing. Her head laid upon my shoulder. “For once, no prophecy to dictate our lives or say you’re going to die.”

“That’s a plus.”

“Yes, definitely a plus.” She kissed me again, then hit my shoulder. “Now get out. I have to make it to Brooklyn and set up my room.”

“Bossy, bossy.” Climbing out, I grabbed my bags and turned, seeing her grey eyes amidst the sea of gold. I bent down one more time and gave her a kiss that matched no other. “Text me during your classes. We’ll meet sometime this week.”

“This week?” She scowled. “I was thinking dinner tomorrow.”

“It’s a date.”

“First one in eight weeks. Now get inside. I don’t want anyone attacking you right outside your home.”

A snort, but I headed toward the door anyway. “Please. I saved the Western Civilization once, y’know.”

“Okay, fine. Then I just wanted to watch you walk.”

Heat immediately flooded my cheeks. “Annabeth!”

“What?” She winked at me as she pulled away. “Poseidon apparently gave you a lot of his…accessories.”

Okay, sexually harassed by girlfriend.

I tried to look at my butt, but the duffle was in the way. Huh. Was it really that good?

No.

I peered about, and sure enough, one of those horses who pulled the carriages about Central Park twitched his head.

You’re sure no filly.

I narrowed my eyes and opened the front door to the building. “Who asked you anyway?”

*^*^*

Turning onto Broadway, Annabeth raised the volume, blasting “Halfway Gone” through her open windows. Halfway down the avenue, a startling voice called out, “I’d say you’re more than halfway gone, honey.”

Annabeth jumped in her seat and whirled toward the newcomer in the passenger seat. The woman had platinum, fake blonde hair that was styled like a movie star’s. Though she wore black lipstick and eye shadow, she was still beautiful in a seductive dress that cut in all the right places.

Annabeth glanced from her to the road as the woman flicked down the mirror to check her makeup. “Who are you?”

The woman touched up her lipstick. “We’re actually close friends, Daughter of Athena. I’m known as Strife, Discord—”

“Eris,” Annabeth gasped.

“Ah, so you haven’t ignored me all these years.”

“What do you want?”

Eris flapped up the mirror and sat on her side, her legs crossed at her knees. “What does anyone really want, Annabeth?” Her black-tipped nails pushed back Annbeth’s own golden mane. “Everyone loves an underdog. Easy things come with a price. No pain, no gain. I’m that struggle. I give people a feeling of accomplishment, like the feeling you had after you helped Percy Jackson defeat Kronos.”

“That was different,” Annabeth upheld, miffed. “We had been battling him for years.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You don’t help people. You make their lives harder.”

“Tomat-toe, to-mot-toe, honey.”

Annabeth scowled. Sometimes gods could be so infuriating. “So, what are you doing here? In my car?”

Eris shrugged. “The Olympians have had their reign challenged, Kronos proved the Olympians weren’t as invisible as they seem, and now my family and I have decided to do what Kronos could not.”

“So…your point?”

Confusion enveloped Eris’s face, and she flicked Annabeth’s ear. “You are so supposed to smart, right? You and your friends at Half-Blood Triage were the only reason why Olympian held.”

Understanding contorted Annabeth’s fair features. “What do you want with me?”

“What else? To make your life harder.”

With a snap of Eris’s fingers, thick, black smog filled the car.

*^*^*

“Percy?”

You know how people say things like, “Oh, you can’t hate. You may dislike, but you can’t hate.” Words from Annabeth. Well, I don’t care that she’s the daughter of the Godess of Wisdom; she was wrong about this.

“Mr. Jackson?”

I really, really, really hated Triton.

“Mister Jackson?”

I mean, how could I not? After what he did to me—

An older hand slapped down on my notebook and tore the drawing from its page.

“Paul!” I yelled, and my teacher glared down at me with knowing eyes.

Yeah, Paul Blofis was my English teacher every Monday through Friday from 10:30 to noon, but from 2:30 in the afternoon to 10:30 the next day, he was my stepdad. And to be honest, a pretty cool one at that. So, I gulped back the excess salvia in my mouth and muttered, “I mean, Mr. Blofis.”

Paul’s face relaxed, and he looked down at what I had been doing. Immediately, my cheeks flushed a bright, tomato red, as Mr. Blofis scrutinized every angle of my drawing, probably thinking it was him.

It wasn’t.

It was my half-brother Triton with a trident stuck in his head. I’m no Annabeth or Rachel, but I think it was half good for the son of Poseidon.

Mr. Blofis waved the paper in his hand. “I didn’t know you wanted to be artist, Mr. Jackson. The art room is four doors down, which I greatly encourage you to visit during your study period. While you’re here, though, I expect you to be interested or at least attentive to Oedipus Rex.”

“Does it have to be Greek?” I asked when he retreated to his desk. “I mean, there seems to be there’s a lot of tragedy with Greek plays. Can’t anybody live happily ever after?”

The class giggled and snickered, and any normal teacher would have told me to shut up (maybe not in those words) and just gone on with the lesson. But Paul—like I said—was cool, so he smiled at me sympathetically.

“The Greek playwrights sometimes used a literarily device called deus ex machina, where a god would be lowered onto the stage and resolve the plot, sometimes granting that happily ever after.”

I averted my eyes. “Why doesn’t that happen anymore?”

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing.”

Paul seemed to understand and opened his book once more. “Percy, why don’t you take it from the top of page 125, hmm?”

I hated Mr. Blowfish.

“Um…nah. I’m good.”

“Maybe you’d like to read it to me in detention?”

I really hated Mr. Blowfish.

Slowly, I pulled my book in front of me and began, “My children, latest-born draws—”

“Wards,” Mr. Blofis supplied.

The jock troop laughed in the back.

Mr. Blofis put up his hands. “Mr. Hiller, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Jefferson, I expect to you this afternoon before football practice. Percy, continue.”

Huffing, I rolled my eyes at him, one last attempt for mercy and when he refused, mustered up the courage to begin again.

Half an hour later, the class bell rang, and the students filtered out of the room. I remained behind, standing before Paul’s desk.

“Why do you do that?”

He glanced up from the papers he gathered, a pen in his mouth. “Do what?” he muttered.

“You know I’m dyslexic. My brain is hot-wired for Ancient Greek, not English. You know, and yet you still—”

He spat the pen out onto his desk and sat back in his chair. “Percy, you don’t live in the time of Ancient Greece. Yes, I understand that part of life is like that culture—” he added before I could, “—but you live ten months out of the year in an English-speaking realm. How are you going to get better at reading if you don’t attempt it?”

“Aren’t you listening to me?” I slammed my books on the desk behind me. “Why do you have to change me? Why can’t you just take me for who I am?”

Paul glanced at the books, then at me. “We’re not talking about reading anymore, are we?”

I shook my head, and when he leaned back his chair, I pushed back onto his desk, letting my toes skim the floor. Mom and I told Paul about me being a demigod about a year and a half ago, and surprisingly, he was okay with it. He really didn’t believe us, though, until Mrs. O’Leary showed up in the living room. Huge hellhound? Yeah, not many people can ignore that. Then again with the Mist…

Sighing, I told Paul about the fight I had with Triton and how he forced me to drink the Eternal Nectar of the Gods.

Paul grabbed my knee. “Did you tell Sally?”

I shrugged. “How can I tell Mom this? She takes enough of my crap as it is. I don’t want to worry her about this, too.”

It’s true. My mom’s the most awesome woman in the world. She takes everything the godly world can throw and still hugs me at night.

Paul took a deep breath and snatched his empty glass. He’d finished the drink during one of his dramatic readings. With a mental shrug, I dug into my pocket and pulled out a small seashell. Dropping it into his cup, I held my hand over his glass. Suddenly, from what appeared to be thin-or thick-air, water dribbled into Paul’s cup.

He looked at me like I had three heads, which to be honest with you, isn’t something really out of the ordinary for me.

“The sea’s always with me. With a little tinkering…” Hades, I didn’t know how. I just knew I could do that.

Paul refrained from drinking. I really didn’t blame him. It was saltwater after all.

“Look, Percy, don’t…freak out too much, all right? Your dad has never seemed like someone to force you to do something against your will, and if this Triton really regards you as a brother, then he’ll want what you want.” Paul sat up and scribbled quickly onto his notepad. “I’ll do some research, see what I can find about this Eternal Nectar. I’ve never heard of it in any plays or—”

“Neither has Chiron,” I admitted helplessly, “so I really don’t think that you’d…” Heat rushed to my face again. “Look, that’s not what I meant. I just mean—”

“It’s okay. Still, it can’t hurt to try, can it? We might get lucky.” Paul ripped off the note and handed it to me. “Now, why don’t you head to gym? Mrs. Fredericks threatened me with detention for keeping you from her class last year.”

I rolled my eyes and dragged myself off his desk. “Just for the record: her class isn’t so hard. I could ace it with my eyes closed and my sword hand behind my back. I’d like to see her go through one training session at Camp Half-Blood.”

“You and me both,” Paul laughed.

I collected my books and headed to the door. Halfway through, I stopped and glanced back. “Hey, Paul?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks…y’know, for putting up with me.”

Paul smiled fondly, and for a brief moment, his grin reminded me of my own dad’s, the one I remember from when I was a baby. “There’s no ‘putting up with’, kid. Now, seriously, get to gym before I get written up.”

I waved and headed out. Most people would hate to have their parent as a teacher, but y’know, it was kinda cool to have Paul around. And it was really cool to get out of gym.

*^*^*

Paul finished gathering his papers and let out a loud sigh when his hazel eyes caught sight of the water. He covered the glass with his palm and closed his eyes, but they shot open at the creaking of the door. A tall figure in a sweatshirt and jeans entered the room, pulling the door shut behind him.

“Can I help you?” Paul asked, sitting straighter.

The young man turned, showing his dark, night hair and his sea-green eyes.

“Hey, Paul. Can I talk to you for a moment?”

Paul took a deep, bracing breath.

*^*^*

The rest of the day was a wash, but I seriously started to worry about Annabeth. I sent her texts all day about what to do for dinner, and she hadn’t gotten back to me yet. I mean, granted, her school is more strict with cell phones than mine, but still…I’d call her, but cell phones and demigods? Uh, no. I’d attract less monsters if I stood in the middle of Time Square with a bullhorn and announced to everyone I was the son of Poseidon.

I finally decided I’d call her via Iris-message when I got home.

Paul stayed at school, so I walked the few blocks. When I opened the door, Mom met me with a hand upon her enlarged stomach, a wide smile upon her face.

“He’s kicking, Percy. Come here! He’s kicking!”

She grabbed my hand and pressed it against her stomach before I could protest. I was about to when a small bump smacked my hand. Once, twice, three times, and still, my mom couldn’t help but glow. Her smile was infectious, and I returned it widely.

Oh, did I forget to tell you Mom and Paul are pregnant?

Yeah, there’s going to have a little guppy around the house…kind of.

Mom then drew me into the foyer and took my bookbag. “How was your day, honey?”

“Not bad, but Mom, did Annabeth call?”

She shook her head. “No, not today, but someone else is here to see you.”

I arched an eyebrow. I wasn’t expecting anyone, but then again, would anyone really expect the first lieutenant of the Hunters? Thalia Grace sat on my couch, her legs up, dunking a blue cookie into a glass of milk.

“Thalia?” I asked. “What are you doing here?”

I bet that sounded harsh, but seriously, it was said about an octave too high and rushed like a girl speaking to her crush.

No, I don’t crush on Thalia, but I hardly see her anyone since she joined the Hunters. She’s like that girl you had as a best friend before you knew what cooties were, and you can’t help but still love her.

Oh, and she’s Zeus’s daughter, but you already knew that, right?

“Percy Jackson,” she breathed and bounced off the couch, catching me a bone-crushing embrace. Seriously, she’s, like, super strong. “Oh, my gods. How are you doing?”

“How am I doing? How are you doing?”

“I’ll let you two catch up,” my mom said, sliding a plate of blue cookies onto the coffee table.

“Thanks, Ms. Jackson.”

Yeah, my mom kept her maiden name to still have the same last name as me. So, apparently, the squirt is going to be Baby Jackson-Blofis.

I feel sorry for him already.

Anyway, back to Thalia. She watched my mom leave before motioning toward the fire escape. I agreed. After all, better to keep out of mortal-earshot when talking about this kind of stuff. We took the cookies, though.

Thalia held herself together pretty well since, y’know, she’s afraid of heights.

“Percy, I…I had a nightmare a few nights ago.”

I shrugged. That’s nothing new for Half-Bloods. Yeah, while you dream of failing tests and going to school naked, we dream of the world ending.

All the time.

“No, Percy. You don’t understand. It was…creepy, more so than usual.”

Biting into a cookie, I nodded. “How so?”

“Well, you were there, and me and Annabeth, Clarisse, Nico, Rachel, and…and Luke.”

Okay, yeah, that’s not normal. I told her that.

She nodded and dunked another cookie. “I know, right? Not to mention, we were all, like, twenty, twenty-two, and we were talking about the new prophecy.”

“Percy, we can’t do this,” Annabeth interjected. They stood in the middle of the throne room of Olympus with Apollo, Mr. D, Hephaestus, Hera, and Aphrodite. “It’s not wise.”

“It’s more than not wise,” Mr. D sneered. “It’s down right insane, and trust me. I know.”

“We have no choice,” Percy said, his voice tense. “Everyone here knows the prophecy. Seven half-bloods shall answer the call.”

“Yeah, seven,” Clarisse grunted. “We’re one short.”

“And like I said, we don’t have a choice. They’re out there, right now, waiting for Olympus to fall. Without the big three, Hermes, Artemis, and Athena, then the world will end.”

“To storm or fire, the world must fall,” Rachel recited.

The entire group glared at her before Percy shook his head. “Thank you for that, Rachel. It’s always good to hear death and destruction straight from the Oracle’s mouth.”

“Thank you, Percy. It’s always great to hear the back end of a donkey talk.”

“My dad created horses, not donkeys.”

“Close enough.”

Percy sighed. “Look, I like this as much as everyone else, but I don’t see another way.”

“The world must fall…

Oh, that about says it all…”

“Shut up, Apollo!” Aphrodite exclaimed, though her voice hardly sounded raised. “As much I loathe mortals becoming immortals—gods even!—I do believe Jackson as a point.” She brushed her delicate hand along Percy’s collarbone. “Olympus must preserve.”

Annabeth immediately extracted the hand and dropped it.

Hera nodded. “I agree. There seems to be no other way, and I must say. I will enjoy being able to torture some people here without fear of her parent’s retribution.”

She sent Annabeth an especially nasty glare.

Luke stepped in front of Annabeth. “This isn’t time for grudges,” he ordered. “So, it is agreed? Each one of us will take the throne of our parent.”

“No.” Thalia stepped forward. “I…I can sense I am not meant to take the throne of the God of the Sky. I am to follow Artemis as Goddess of the Hunt.”

“Then…who will take Zeus’s spot?” Hephaestus asked.

Rachel raised her glowing eyes and met Percy forthwith. “You do not understand. The prophecy says the world must fall and fall it shall, with or without your strife. With or without the seventh, you shall fail.”

“This will lead to Death,” Nico added, his voice a low rumble amongst the group. He had become just as powerful as his father. “I can tell. Rachel is right. The quest is doomed.”

Percy’s eyes darkened, and he looked away. “I know...but we have to try.”

“And that’s when I woke up.”

Yeah, that scored a ten on the creep-oh-meter. “So what do you think it means?”

“I dunno, and worse yet, Luke was there. I mean, Luke’s dead, isn’t he?”

“Last time I checked.”

“Don’t worry. You will join him shortly.”

We whirled toward the saucy accent from Down Under to see a young man, about twenty or so, hovering just a few inches from the fire escape. He had dark black hair and glowing, vibrant sapphire eyes. He looked like a normal college student in jeans and a T-shirt, though large, black wings sprouted from the back of his shirt, flapping to keep him in the air. A sword hung at his waist, and he held a torch upside down.

“Thanatos is the name; death is my game.”

To Be Continued…